2025 Rankings Breakdown: Running Backs

May 19, 2025

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Our 2025 projections have been released, so it’s time to go position-by-position and briefly explain what I’m seeing as the draft season starts to take shape. This is the second of a four-part series providing an early look at our early 2025 projections.

More Rankings Breakdowns: QB | WR | TE

Workload

Here’s my annual reminder to follow the touches.

In 2022, of the 21 running backs who averaged at least 16.1 touches per game, only Brian Robinson failed to crack the top 23 in per-game scoring. Eight backs averaged at least 19.0 touches per game. Five of the eight finished in the top six, and another (Joe Mixon) finished RB9.

In 2023, seven backs averaged at least 19.0 touches: Kyren Williams (21.7), Christian McCaffrey (21.2), Josh Jacobs (20.8), Saquon Barkley (20.6), Rachaad White (19.6), Alvin Kamara (19.6), and Travis Etienne (19.0). Only Jacobs (RB19) failed to finish in the top 11 in per-game scoring, and four of those seven backs finished in the top six.

Nine of the 14 backs who averaged 16.0 to 18.9 touches per game finished inside the top 18 in per-game scoring. Only four backs–Bijan Robinson (15.9, RB20), Jahmyr Gibbs (15.8, RB7), Raheem Mostert (15.6, RB3), and De'Von Achane (11.9, RB4)–averaged fewer than 16.0 touches per game but managed to finish in the top 20 in per-game scoring.

Last year, there were nine players who averaged at least 19.0 touches and all nine finished with RB1 numbers, inside the top 12 on a per-game basis.

Of the 19 players who averaged at least 17.0 touches, 16 finished inside the top 20, and all 19 finished inside the top 27.

As always, we should follow the touches when approaching the position, unless the player is highly efficient (Achane, James Cook, David Montgomery) and/or catches a lot of passes (Gibbs).